The Oakland Raiders are coming into the 2015 offseason with money to spend in free agency and names like Ndamukong Suh, Greg Hardy, Michael Crabtree, Julius Thomas, Jeremy Maclin and Randall Cobb all could be targets and this comes as Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace and Larry Fitzgerald are potential trade options for the team.
The Raiders have a new head coach in Jack del Rio and owner Mark Davis hopes that he will be the long term solution in the Bay Area. The team may have over $50 million in cap space this offseason, according to Over the Cap, and that makes them potential players on the market for all types of names. Suh is one player to keep an eye on, as the Raiders need a major makeover on defense, while DeMarco Murray and Julius Thomas could be the main options on offense.
According to Pro Football Talk, Greg Hardy is set to be a free agent and now that he has had his rape case dismissed, teams could be more willing to sign him. The Raiders could be a potential option if they don't sign Suh, as Hardy showed he could be one of the best players in the NFL at his position in 2013 and his absence made an impact for the Panthers. While Hardy doesn't look great based on his case, it was dismissed and now NFL teams may take that as enough to bring him in on a free agent deal if he doesn't go back with the Panthers.
The Raiders will have a ton of cap space and that makes them options for a number of players on the market, including Suh, Murray and Julius Thomas. Suh reportedly wants to sign with the Seattle Seahawks and wants to make $50 million guaranteed, meaning he likely will have to pick one or the other to sign with the NFC champs. The Seahawks could sign Suh, but it's unlikely, as he is looking to be one of the highest paid defensive players in football at around $100 million, which would be JJ Watt money.
Suh is as talented as anyone in the league at their position, but teams will have to weigh his on field issues with any free agent deal. The team also will be looking on the offensive side of the ball and a betting man may want to put money on Thomas signing with Oakland. Thomas has made 24 TD catches over the past two seasons and he may get priced out of Denver as the team tries to keep Demaryius Thomas for Peyton Manning. If that happens, expect Thomas the tight end to sign elsewhere.
The Raiders went just 3-13 last season and that came after two straight 4-12 seasons under Dennis Allen. The team is losing Darren McFadden and was one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Adding someone in a trade like Fitzgerald, Wallace or Johnson could be options, as that would give Derek Carr some solid weapons to work with. The team also has the cap space to make moves if they choose to do so. Maclin and Cobb are also potential targets, as they could ask for more money than the Eagles and Packers are willing to give.
